Confessions Part 3

Today, is my methods of homeschooling.

I'm always asked the infamous question one homeschooler asks another "what curriculum do you use?" Well, there's no simple answer to that question for me! And sometimes, that fact can bug people. But, that's ok, becuase I'm not homeschooling them, I'm homeschooling my kids! And to that, I know my kids are learning!

Sometimes, I do struggle with teaching my oldest daughter. Most any time I bring up learning to her, she cringes. I think part of that is because she did go to public school for 3 years, and ended up with the typical mindset most public schooled kids end up with, is that learning can't be fun.  I find it sad that she and others end up with that, because it doesn't always have to be that way! I've tried for the last few years to find ways to make learning more fun and appealing for her. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. She loves reading, but gets frustrated with text books. I discovered after the first time I checked out books and videos on one particular history topic (Sacajawea, which included Lewis & Clark), and then bringing back out the text book & 5 quizzes. The only one she scored 100% on was the one about Lewis & Clark. So, now when it comes to learning history and science, we are using books from the library as our primary source. We just started this method this school year, and so we still have bumps to smooth out. But, she is getting practice with reading and reading for learning, not just entertainment, notetaking, vocabulary, handwriting, spelling, etc. We plan on taking the notes she has made and making lapbooks on each subject. So, she gains knowledge, practice and experience in history, science, and the various language & reading subjects.

For math, we still are trying to find our niche. We use different things: computer math games, text books, Math-U-See, drilling, real life situations, etc, anything we can find to learn math!

So, I use different brands of curriculum, unschooling, mixed with some classical, and possibly a touch of a few other methods in there. Therefore, we are very eclectic! I can not claim that I lean more to one specific method or curriculum. I also like to watch a lot of educational shows, use the Bible, research on the internet, using life situations to talk and learn about differen things. Like,  my kids will ask a question about something, and I will try to answer it, or research the answer so that they can learn. The more I can answer these questions, the more both they and I learn (becuase sometimes I don't know the answer). One question we researched was, what is the tallest tree in the world? Today, Faith asked one that we have to research: what actually happens when you cough?

Trinity loves to learn. She has never been to school (of course, she's still 4) and hasn't been taught that learning isn't fun. She absorbs things so easily, comprehends things so well (was counting to 10 and new her ABC's before 2, and reading 2 & 3 letter words before 3) without having to really try to get her to. She learns from anything and everything she comes across. She loves books and music, educational shows and computer & video games, educational & non educational toys, imaginitive play, drawing, cooking, singing, drums, anything noisy, dirt & water, and the list goes on. I've used some formal curriculum with her, but I really haven't needed to, she learns so well, and so much better, without it! She even enjoys learning some things right along side her sister. For example, today I was discussing food chains with Faith, showing her things in books from the library, and Trinity was very interested and asking questions and wanting to see too. When I was working on getting a pattern and fabric ready to make a skirt, she wanted to help. Tonight, the girls watched a couple of shows with my mom & I before bed, like Mystery Diagnosis and Dr G. Before bed, Trinity put together a 50 piece puzzle designed for children 5 & over for the first time. I barely helped her, just teaching her about the edge pieces and using the picture on the box and clues from each piece of the puzzle to assemble the whole. Once she finished it, she was so excited she was just beaming! She felt so proud of herself that she put it together. I am so proud and always impressed and amazed by what she's able to do.

If I listed everything that my kids learn from and have learned, this blog post would never end! So, I'm stopping here. But to sum it up and answer everybody's question, my method is very eclectic and my curriculum varies to be anything that works and meets the current need!

Here is a pic of Trinity's completed puzzle.